Survey: U.S. companies add 139,000 jobs in February

WASHINGTON — A private survey shows that U.S. companies added slightly more jobs in February than in the previous month, but harsh winter weather still weighed on hiring.

Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that businesses added 139,000 jobs last month, up from only 127,000 in January. But January’s figure was revised sharply lower from an original estimate of 175,000.

The data suggests that the government’s jobs report for February, to be released Friday, will show only modest gains.